Coach Interview: Gerard O'Shea: Katie Peverada sits down with Gerard O'Shea, the latest addition to the Men's Basketball staff

Posted by Katie Peverada

Gerard O'Shea, who graduated in 2012 with a Business major, has returned to Skidmore as an assistant coach for the Men's Basketball team for the 2012-2013 season. Gerard is the Thoroughbreds' all-time leader in steals and assists and a two-time Liberty League First Team selection. I recently talked with him about his return to the court in his new role.

KP: What will your duties be as the assistant coach? What is your role?
GO: My duties this year will be recruiting, helping young players adjust to college basketball, game preparation and individual breakdown with guards during practice.

KP: How do you see your experience as a player carrying over to coaching?
GO:I think a lot carries over - the knowledge of the game, knowing different players and different situations. It'll help that I've been playing for so many years.

KP: What are you most excited about in your new role as a coach?
GO: It's just something different. Just from the first couple of weeks it's two different things. Coach Burke has been a great mentor in helping me to adjust from player to coach and I'm just really looking forward to seeing the guys excel.

KP: What are you most nervous about in your new role?
GO: I guess just not being able to play and seeing things on the court and not being able to do it myself. I'll have to rely on others.

KP: What do you think you can add to the coaching staff?
GO: I think just being able to help the younger guys adjust. I think [my experience] playing college basketball for four years - I can help them learn the system and the players.

KP: Do you see your closeness in age to the members of the team being a positive aspect?
GO: Yeah, I actually do. I can relate to what they're going through - balancing school, academics and all that.

KP: Where do you see yourself in a few years? Still coaching?
GO: Thus far, I like coaching a lot. It's been a great experience and it keeps me around the game of basketball.

KP: What are you most excited about for the year in terms of the team?
GO: To see how our team grows over the year. We've got a talented group.

KP: What has been your favorite part about coaching so far?
GO: So far just working under Coach Burke. I had a great relationship with him as a player. He's a great coach and I'm learning a lot from him.

Sticking to His Guns: Wilson Gibbons gets head Men's Basketball Coach Joe Burke's perspective on the upcoming season

Posted by Wilson Gibbons

I sat down in Coach Burke's office. It was neat and simple, containing little evidence that it was the office of a basketball coach other than a white board on the wall behind his desk. The board was filled to capacity with precise lines and a multitude of X's and O's. In a way, his plain office was characteristic of Burke's style: not flashy or ostentatious, but a focused no nonsense approach to the game of basketball. He emphasizes defense as the staple and identity of the program, and his offensive tactics stress unselfishness and making the extra pass.

His attitude reflects his wealth of experience despite his relatively tender age. But experience has not made Burke a crusty curmudgeon by any means. He is undoubtedly in touch with the more modern constructs of professional basketball. He has implemented schemes such as Tom Thibodeau's strong side man-to-man defense (popularized by the '08 Celtics after their championship run), Jay Wright's "four out one in" offense (disseminated by the Villanova Wildcats) and two guard sets that are borrowed from his days under Steve Donahue.

Burke will be the first to tell you that his attitude and methodology are heavily derived from his mentors. He previously held posts as an assistant under hall-of-fame coach Herb "Shot Doctor" Magee at Philadelphia University, Steve Donahue at Cornell (Mr. Donahue would later go on to coach for Boston College) and finally under Bill Lang at Navy. All of these coaches offered invaluable pieces to Burke's repertoire. As a result, the Thoroughbreds offense is a blend of styles that reflect his collection of marks left from many basketball gurus

Any style of play requires the right personnel to implement it. Burke has a tremendous amount of confidence in his current roster, despite graduating his top five scorers from last season.

"We're not going to change-here we are. My expectations for this group are very high because I think we have a ton of talent," Burke said.

While Burke emphatically stated that he has not changed his approach, he did concede that he has had to be more patient with some of the newer players.

"I've had freshman come in [this year] that are as good as we've ever had from a talent standpoint," Burke said.

Despite the heavy roster turnover there are still high hopes for the College's Men's Basketball team this season. Ultimately, Burke said he would continue to rely on the philosophies and principles that have made him and this program successful.

The Men's Basketball team begins its season on Nov. 16 at Widener University against Delaware Valley College.
   

Field Hockey and Volleyball headed to NCAA Tournament: The season continues for both Skidmore College Field Hockey and Volleyball

Posted by Billie Kanfer

As the fall comes to an end, both the Field Hockey and Volleyball teams are headed to their respective NCAA tournaments. The Volleyball team earned its second straight and eighth overall NCAA Division III Tournament bid on Monday, Nov. 5. They finished their regular season with a record of 26-7 and faced SUNY New Paltz (32-8) in the opening round, Friday, Nov. 9 at Clarkson University. Unfortunately, Skidmore suffered a terminating loss that ended their season. SUNY New Paltz will play the winner of Colby-Sawyer and SUNY Cortland in Saturday's regional semi-final with the championship scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 11. For more information on the game, click here.

Field Hockey received their sixth straight and twelfth overall NCAA Division III tournament invite this past Monday, Nov. 5. Skidmore (13-5) hosted UMASS Dartmouth (17-5) on Wednesday, Nov. 7 and came out victorious in the game. For more information on this game, click here. Skidmore will travel to Middlebury to take on the No. 1 Panthers on Saturday, Nov. 10. For those who will not be able to travel to see the game, a live feed will be available through this link. Good luck to the team!

Coach Interview: Hilda Arrechea: Katie Peverada speaks to long time Head Skidmore Volleyball Coach

Posted by Katie Peverada

KP: You were a player on the Puerto Rican National Volleyball team - how does that transfer to coaching?
HA: I say this as a joke but it's the reality to it. Once I couldn't play anymore, then coaching became the alternative. It's a natural progression - I could stay in the game, pass on a little bit of what I learned, and hopefully continue in that tradition of playing and coaching.

KP: You've been at Skidmore since 1995 - how did you end up here?
HA: It was a long road. My husband graduated from Cornell, where I was an assistant for several years, and then he came to work at Union College. So we were in the area, the position opened up, I applied and got the job.

KP: What is your favorite part about coaching here at Skidmore?
HA: It sounds a little clich??, but I enjoy the kids. I enjoy especially this time of the year as they're graduating. Even though I'll miss them, it is a fun and exciting new adventure that the seniors are getting ready to take on.

KP: You've been very successful throughout your time here, making 7 NCAA tournaments and winning 4 Liberty League tournaments. How do you see this year's team stacking up against past teams?
HA: This team is very similar to last year's, as we lost only a couple of players. One of the biggest qualities of last year and this year is that the team never gives up. We can get killed in a set and then we come back strong. We just don't seem to give up. We have good talent but it's just the never give up attitude that I really like about this team.

KP: Your coaching staff has won Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year seven times. How/why do you three work so well together?
HA: Our egos are very, very small. One of the assistant coaches is my husband and the other one has been with us for ten years now. There is very little ego. As the head coach I have the final word, but we talk as equals and they'll openly tell me "I think that's a bad idea" or "I think we have something better." We cooperate with each other very well.

KP: You just had 11 girls named to the Liberty League All-Academic team - what do you do as a coach to ensure the players are succeeding academically?
HA: They make sure themselves, I think. You ask questions, make sure they do the work, but ultimately they are the ones responsible for that.

KP: What is your favorite thing to do outside of volleyball and coaching?
HA: I actually eat out a lot! I enjoy it! I enjoy sewing and the neighbors' kids keep me very entertained.  

Coach Interview: Ron McEachen: Katie Peverada sits down with Ron McEachen prior to his 300th win as a coach

Posted by Katie Peverada

KP: You were a successful player -- All-American and you played professionally -- how did you become so dedicated and involved?
RM: It was just something that I got involved in. I had some good coaches, had some good luck, worked hard, and just got there. I love the game.

KP: Did you know while you were a player that you wanted to be a coach? How did that come about?
RM: It was kind of a natural evolvement. I went to grad-school for Physical Education and took classes in Psychology in a Masters Program, which was kind of the advent for sports psychology and coaching. I'd already worked for a few years and been in the army, so it was cool to do something else.

KP: Do you have any other passions besides soccer?
RM: Yes, I have a lot of passions. I've been writing about 40 years - poetry, prose, thoughts, children's stories and a couple books. I also have an organic garden in Vermont with an orchard, blueberry plants and raspberries. I built a post-and-beam barn last summer with the help of a former player. I like to be out in the woods and outside.

KP: You've coached at Middlebury, UVM, with the New England Revolution - how does Skidmore compare to all of those places?
RM: At Skidmore you get a different kind of young guy. They're more rounded in many ways and have a lot more interests. We have musicians, guys that build sets for productions and artists. At the other schools guys were pretty focused on just soccer. We have to be able to be flexible with everything they have going on.

KP: You graduated 10 seniors from last year's team and lost two Liberty League Honorable mentions. Yet you're 9-4-1 this year. Why?
RM: Last year we had some injuries, but this year we have a healthy freshman goalkeeper with ten shutouts. And the freshman class is the best class we've ever had.

KP: What makes the vibe of this team different from years past?
RM: We had good leadership last year and we do again this year. The guys are really together and there are no cliques - nothing going on.

KP: As a coach, how do you make sure your athletes are on top of their schoolwork?
RM: We ask anybody below a 3.0 to set up a meeting with SAS, and if they don't, then they're not going to train or play. Our overall team grade point average is above a 3.3. They're smart guys and they're good students. They find a great resource in SAS.

KP: How do you utilize your two assistant coaches?
RM: Greg Lloyd, a former captain, who takes care of all the everyday pieces that need to get done -- folders for games, does the fitness, a lot of recruiting pieces. Steve Freeman volunteers his services and works with our defense. We also have Jeff Gold, who works with our goalkeepers, and Peter McDonald who has done some scouting for us.

KP: What is your favorite part about coaching?
RM: I love the interaction with the players. I love to go out every day and smile and shake hands with them and find out how they're feeling. I just think the interaction with the players is the best thing and I love going out there.

Player Interview: Nataly Mendoza: Freshman Paulina Phelps sits down with senior tennis captain Nataly Mendoza

Posted by Paulina Phelps

Freshman Paulina Phelps sits down with senior tennis captain Nataly Mendoza to discuss the team's fall season and how it wrapped up, her tennis career, and what the future holds.
PP: How long have you been playing tennis?
NM: Since I was nine; quite some time now!
PP: Where are you from and what year at Skidmore are you?
NM: I'm a senior and I'm from San Francisco, California.
PP: How's senior year feeling so far? Can you give any advice to soon to be seniors on ways to prepare/what to expect?
NM: It's a different feel. It definitely feels like time is flying by. Something I'm definitely learning how to deal with is looking ahead to not only just choosing classes but also to where I'm going to be and what I'm going to do in the real world.
PP: What do you play on the tennis team?
NM: I play singles and doubles with Lee Ford, who is a junior, about the same amount.
PP: How would you describe the dynamic of the women's tennis team at Skidmore?
NM: It's a little different from years past only in the sense that it's a very tight knit group. We've always gotten along and there have never been huge personality clashes, but this year everyone is pretty great friends. We all hangout outside of tennis a lot which adds a cool feel to the team.
PP: How is the team doing so far this season? How is fall season different from spring?
NM: Our fall season is all tournaments so in a sense there is a lot of individual wins and defeats but we always take these as team successes and losses. We've had a few pretty big tournaments like the New York State Tournament and the ITA (Intercollegiate Tournament Association) Tournament, which we did really well in. We've also had a few dual matches we've done well in, like our match against RPI, which we won 9-0. Fall season sets up the rankings for the spring so even though we don't play as many matches and it's a shorter season there is still pressure to play well. The spring is when you get into the dual matches typically playing two to three matches a week.
PP: What do you feel is the team's greatest strength? What do you feel is your greatest strength as a player?
NM: I think the greatest strength of the team is the support we have for each other. Win or lose we offer each other great support. Through cheering each other on we help each other get through tough matches and even practices.

PP: How has it been balancing studies as well as athletics?
NM: It's been great. I definitely manage my time much better during tennis season because in-season you've got much more on your plate.
PP: What do you enjoy to do when you're not playing tennis?
NM: Hanging out with friends, just typical stuff.
PP: What is your favorite part of playing tennis at Skidmore?
NM: Having a really supportive group of girls on campus that I can always count on and being able to do something that I love.
PP: What's your favorite thing about Skidmore?
NM: I love the people at Skidmore and the town of Saratoga Springs.
PP: In your opinion does the school support athletics enough?
NM: I think over the years Skidmore has made an increasing effort to support all of our athletic teams and I would like to see this continue and expand!
PP: What has playing tennis taught you over the years?
NM: There's always room for improvement, a lot of room for improvement.
PP: What is your major and what are your plans for after Skidmore?
NM: I'm a health and exercise science major. I'm looking into professions in the medical field but have yet to decide on a career path.
PP: Anything else you would like to say?
NM: I'd like to thank my teammates for a great fall season. The girls pushed me to become better than I ever thought I could be. I love them all.

Hit with the Nationally Ranked Skidmore Men's Tennis Team: Come swing your racket with Skidmore Saturday, Oct. 19

Posted by Julia Schwartz

The Skidmore men's tennis team is offering the opportunity to hit with the members of the team Saturday, Oct. 19th.

It will be a fun morning of instruction and drills from top DIII college players. The men are excited for the opportunity to work with both the College and Saratoga Springs community.

They feel it will be a great way to show and share what the College's men's tennis program is all about. Whether you want pointers, a good workout, or an opportunity to see how you stack up, you can find it here.

The program runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Skidmore College Tennis Courts. The juniors program is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the beginner adults program is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the advanced adults program is from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The team is raising money for their spring break trip in March where they will compete with other top teams from across the country. Clinics are $20 per individual. Private hitting is available for $35. Donations are welcome.

For additional questions please contact Alec Hoblitzell at ahoblitzell@yahoo.com.

Player Interview: Marcus Goldbas: Freshman Paulina Phelps sits down with co-captain of Skidmore?s men?s soccer team, Marcus Goldbas.

Posted by Paulina Phelps

PP: How long have you been playing soccer?

MG: Pretty much since I could walk. I don't remember a time when I wasn't playing soccer.

PP: Where are you from and what year at Skidmore are you??

MG: I'm from Utica, NY but my family recently moved to Maine. I am a senior at Skidmore.

PP: How would you describe the dynamic of the men's soccer team at Skidmore?

MG: This year it's definitely different from past years. First off we have a better record. We have a lot of great players from the freshman class. Our goalie Eli, who is a freshman, has been phenomenal. The practices are much more intense and focused. It's a different feeling, it really is. Everyone on the team is really close to each other and we have somewhat of a brotherhood.

PP: How is the team doing so far this season?

MG: We are doing amazingly! We are 6-1-1. We have a national ranking now and are tied for first in the country.

PP: What do you feel is the team's greatest strength?

MG: I would have to say our whole defense and the way they've been playing.

PP: Congratulations on the win against St. Lawrence (the number one team in the league) on Sept. 22. What do you think made the win possible?

MG: Thank you! We just played how we've been playing all year. Our defense is amazing and makes it easy for the offense to get the ball. Brian Mitko has been amazing and leads the whole team to get on the same page.

PP: Is it hard balancing studies as well as athletics?

MG: It's really hard. This year has definitely been the hardest just in terms of my workload with graduating soon and taking 18 credits.

PP: What is your favorite part of playing soccer at Skidmore?

MG: Probably just being out there every day and playing with guys that love the game as much as you do. It's a great way to get your competitiveness out. I don't think I could really function without that competitive spirit. Being with a bunch of guys that have your back is great.

PP: In your opinion, does the school support athletics enough??

MG: I wish it would a little bit more. But I understand that everyone is busy and has their own thing going on which makes it hard to find time to support each other. But as we support each other's activities more, the more effort will be put in and the better the outcome.

PP: What has playing soccer taught you over the years?

MG: The value of teamwork and that nothing can be achieved on the individual level. This goes into real life scenarios: any environment you're put in you need to learn to work on a group or a team and collaborate.

PP: What is your major and what are your plans for after Skidmore?

MG: In terms of soccer I'm thinking about playing for a Maccabi men's soccer team, which will play in Israel this summer. With my major I plan to work with alternate sources of energy. I have a job lined up with GE in their environmental engineering department.

PP: Anything else you would like to say?

MG: Just thanks to all of my teammates for an amazing year so far.

Player Interview: Ceilidh MacNeil

Posted by Paulina Phelps

PP: First, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
CM: I'm from Framingham, Massachusetts. I'm currently a senior at Skidmore and I've been playing all four years for the Skidmore field hockey team.

PP:What does the year look like in terms of field hockey?
CM: Fall is the main season, so definitely the busiest time of year. During winter we don't have any official practices, but the team always organizes workouts. Then in spring there is a miniature season that lasts just four weeks.

PP: How long have you been playing field hockey?
CM: I've been playing since 7th grade, so almost nine years.

PP: What first attracted to you to the sport?
CM: My mom played all through middle school and high school, as well as coached a bit when I was young, so she always wanted me to play because she thought I would love it.

PP: How is the season going so far?
CM: It is going really well. We are 6-0 and we won our first league game last weekend. There is room for improvement, but we are happy with our start. We are currently ranked 6th nationally.

PP: How does that compare to past years?
CM: We are usually top 20, but our ranking has gone up consistently since my freshman year, when we were ranked just eighteenth.

PP: Who would you say your biggest competition is?
CM: It changes, but usually we get pretty fired up for Middlebury. All of our league games are competitive though. We take every competition seriously; we don't take anything for granted.

PP: What position do you play?
CM: I am a forward.

PP: How do you like playing for Skidmore and do you feel the school as a whole is supportive of your team?
CM: I love playing a sport for my school. However I do feel like Skidmore could be better in supporting all sports, including field hockey. I feel like people don't realize how strong the field hockey team is just like they don't realize how strong other sports teams are. That being said, we do get support from other sports teams, as well as friends of players who come out for games.

PP: Would you recommend field hockey to someone?
CM: Yes I would. I love it. It's very competitive. Once you learn it it's a lot of fun. We play on Astro Turf, which makes the game extremely fast-paced and exciting. It takes a lot of skill and hand-eye coordination. Even though it's not as well known, it has the appeal of any other big sport. I would kind of describe it as a cross between soccer and lacrosse. Similarly to soccer it's typically a lower scoring game.

PP: How do you balance schoolwork and field hockey?
CM: The athletic department really emphasizes that we are students first. It can be difficult, especially with away games, but you have to learn time management. Also having good relationships with Professors is key.

NBA Talk: First Round Playoff Predictions: Who's going forward and who's going home

Posted by Andrew Shi

It's playoff time - here's a quick rundown of who's getting past the first round.

Eastern Conference:

(1) Chicago vs. (8) Philadelphia.

The 76ers were nothing but phenomenal at the beginning of the season. How they dropped all the way from a season-high 3rd seed to barely making 8th is still being debated. Chicago's team is looking better every day and has one of the best defenses in the league.

Prediction: Chicago wins in five games

(2) Miami vs. (7) New York.

Miami had a rough patch at the end of the season, whereas New York ended with a nice win streak, albeit Miami did sit out its star players the last few games. New York has unbelievable potential, and the whole nation is waiting for Jeremy Lin's return. The Knick's new coach might be the factor needed to boost New York through the playoffs, but the team needs a little more time for everyone to figure out their roles. Lebron James also really wants this championship

Prediction: Miami sweeps New York.

(3) Indiana vs. (6) Orlando.

Indiana has been this season's surprise. No one saw them dominating the league but they did. Meanwhile, Orlando is without Dwight Howard. The Magic still have a few key players, but it won't be even close to enough.

Prediction: Indiana wins in five.

(4) Atlanta vs. (5) Boston.

Boston is the aging team. Atlanta has the right mix of veterans of young talent. Still the Hawks  seem to lack something, whether its chemistry or motivation, and, despite their team's impressive athleticism and caliber, they struggle against top teams. Boston has always saved their best for the playoffs, and Rondo is capable of taking over. Boston won two out of their three matchups with the Hawks, and the one they lost, they kept it within 5 while sitting their big four. It doesn't matter if Atlanta clinched home court advantage.

 Prediction: Boston wins in six.

Western Conference:

(1) San Antonio vs. (8) Utah.

San Antonio is with one of the best defenses and bench. Utah just barely made the playoffs. As long as San Antonio keeps all of its players healthy they should see great success.

Prediction: San Antonio sweeps Utah.

(2) Oklahoma City vs. (7) Dallas.

Oklahoma City has some of the youngest talent in the NBA. Kevin Durant is arguably the best small forward, and Russell Westbrook is a top point guard. Serge Ibaka is one of the league's best defenders and James Harden is likely winner of sixth man. Dallas has a lot of clutch players, and, old clutch players, but it's unlikely they'll be able to keep up with the Thunder.

Prediction: Oklahoma City wins in five.

(3) Los Angeles vs. (6) Denver.

The Lakers have Kobe Bryant and the best active center - Andrew Bynum. Metta World Peace will be out for six more games which may take a toll on the Lakers. Denver has a lot of young players who can dominate the game. JaVale Mcgee was a great pickup, and Kenneth Faried is a top choice for rookie of the year. It's going to be a close call but the Nuggets need another year or two of experience.

Prediction: Los Angeles wins in six

(4) Grizzlies vs. (5) Clippers.

This has probably been the hardest matchup to decide so far. Last year the Grizzlies, without Rudy Gay, topped the Spurs (although the Spurs were without Manu Ginobili). Marc Gasol is one of the most versatile and prolific centers in the league, and Mike Conley is a top tier point guard. Zack Randolph is a dominating figure, and having him and Gilbert Arenas come off the bench is pretty awesome. Still the Clippers have Chris Paul who is possibly the most clutch player in the league and has utterly transformed the team making it in to one well-oiled bull-dozer of a team. Blake Griffin must also be mentioned, as well as Randy Foye DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe, who have all added essential offense and defense. In season match-ups, the Clippers won 2-1. Prediction: Los Angeles win in 7, but if the Grizzlies take the win there will be no surprise either.

Skidmore's riding team prepares for IHSA Nationals: Two years ago Skidmore won Nationals and now they venture down to Raleigh, NC, to regain the title.

Posted by Lauren Bosche Next week, from May 3rd to the 6th, Skidmore's riding team will head down to Raleigh, North Carolina, to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's National Championships.

Unlike most other sports offered at Skidmore, riding has a year-round season. Competition generally starts in October and culminates in Nationals in the spring. Skidmore's team of 36 riders is led by Head Coach Cindy Ford and Assistant Coach Belinda Colgan who have helped garner much prestige for Skidmore's riding program.

The riding team has an outstanding competitive record, having won 16 of the past 18 Regional titles and numerous Zone titles as well. The Thoroughbreds have held the IHSA National Hunt Seat Team National Championship five times and the Reserve National Championship twice since 1990.

Skidmore's impressive riding caliber allows the team to compete in an organization that is comparable to Division I, despite Skidmore being a school of Division III athletics. Rather than riding against other Liberty League athletes, Skidmore rides against Zone II equestrians in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

The IHSA was founded in 1967 by Bob Cacchione. The organization's website states that its mission is to "[promote] competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional, zone, and national levels." The IHSA provides a unique showing experience, as riders do not need to own a horse to compete. The association was founded with equality in mind, as it asserts that any college student-regardless of his or her financial status or riding level-should be able to horse show in the same capacity as others that are better off.

The IHSA has taken a traditionally individualist sport and turned it into a team sport. When Skidmore competes at away shows, they ride the host team's horses, in lieu of trailering Skidmore's own show horses around the state. Then, when Skidmore hosts a show, all of the visiting riders have a jumping round or a flat class aboard one of Skidmore's horses. One doesn't need to own a horse to compete; on the contrary, Skidmore's team members benefit from riding a variety of horses.

According to the IHSA website, there are 404 riding teams in the IHSA, which are divided into Zones and then further divided into Regions. In the 2011-12 season, 6,468 Hunter Seat riders were registered to compete, while 1,819 Western riders signed on as well.

The IHSA truly tests horsemanship skills, regardless of a rider's background in the sport. A rider's show performance on a foreign horse is incredibly telling of their dedication. Additionally, the IHSA supports thousands of riders in their pursuit to become better horsemen and horsewomen by getting rid of a substantial part of monetary concern and through providing equal opportunities to its riders.

Skidmore heads into this year's National competition with an undefeated record. This season's finale is one to watch. Follow Skidmore Equestrian on Twitter to keep up with the latest news at http://twitter.com/#!/SkidEq

Player Profile: Chelsea Jones: Jones '12 talks about her journey on the riding team and the duty of a captain

Posted by Andrew Shi

Chelsea Jones '12 is one of the captains of the riding team. She has participated in the riding team all four years at Skidmore, but started riding at the age of two.

Jones continued riding and when she entered Skidmore she was rewarded with great success for her hard work."We have always done very well in our region and it is expected that we win every show. Sophomore year we actually won nationals and last year we were reserve champions at nationals. This year ...we recently won zones and are off to nationals in two weeks," Jones said.

Although the team has been very successful Jones says: "being on the team for four years has had its ups and downs just as any sport. I have been fortunate to go to nationals all four years for the team, however there is a lot of stress and expectations that arise from nationals that have led to the tougher times on the team." Those tough times include some performances Jones described as poor, but were good enough to win her class at zones in her division.

Jones has used her poorer performances as opportunities to learn, and her journey at Skidmore is testimony to her growth. "I started off on the team as a novice rider and have now made my way through to an open rider," (the highest level) Jones said.

It is perhaps her  growth as well as her will to win and ability to remain calm that made her captain. Despite the calm facade, Jones admits that she often is under a lot of pressure, mostly due to her own doing."I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed and take doing something wrong very hard and personal."

Jones says that leading the riding team to nationals has not been easy, and the role as captain is tolling. "I am very lucky this year because all the girls on the team are fantastic... however, to be the go between the coach and riders, as I care a great deal about both, is hard as sometimes there are sticky situations that I am the messenger for."

Also, with championships approaching, nerves are running high and Jones works hard to keep her teammates happy and motivated. "I am just there to cheer my teammates on and give them hugs and support no matter how well they do. If members on the team start to get down on themselves they are not going to perform as well as they can" Jones said.

After her final IHSA nationals and graduation Jones says she will continue riding but aspires to become a child psychiatrist. "I am a Saratoga mentor and have been since my freshman year of college. I have been a mentor for the same girl from age 6 to 10 and this has been one of the best experiences I have had at Skidmore. I have also interned at the Four Winds Psychiatric hospital in Saratoga where I found my passion for children with psychiatric disorders... For the future I am hoping to become a child psychiatrist so there is a long road ahead of schooling for me. "

For now though Jones will keep her focus on the IHSA nationals. "IHSA nationals are always stressful and nerve-wracking ...but this year seems special because it is my last year adding some pressure." Still Jones is optimistic about this year's results, although she says a lot depends on the horses that the team's randomly receive. "I am very confident in the team we have going this year as many of us have shown for the team at nationals before and if we are lucky enough to get the right horses I see no reason why we could not win."

NBA Talk: Who will take the East?: When the Bulls and Heat likely face off for the Eastern Conference Finals, who will come out on top?

Posted by Andrew Shi

Come playoffs, the Eastern Conference Finals will end in a showdown between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, and if regular season matches are any indication of the conference results, the Bulls will leave victorious.

Last year, however, the Heat beat the Bulls in six games. So what has changed? Player-wise, not much. For the Bulls the only notable change has been Richard Hamilton for Keith Bogans, but besides that it is the same players. For the Heat there has been some more movement. Rookie Norris Cole has shown potential and Shane Battier has added to their defense. The mid-season pickup of Ronny Turiaf also may prove to be the center the Heat need. Still the team revolves around the big three.

The Heat have shown substantial improvement as a team. They seem much more cohesive and team chemistry is flowing well. NBA daily highlight reels always include at least one alley-oop between Wade and Lebron. The Heat are currently fourth in the league for points scored per game and Wade and Lebron are at the top of the league in points. Still the Heat, as seen in a recent losing streak, are beatable and it is often suspected that in their attempt for team chemistry, Wade and Lebron are holding each other back, and if one left the Heat would do better.

This All-Star conflict doesn't exist in the Bulls. Although there are two current All-Stars on the team (Derrick Rose and Luol Deng) the power of the Bulls doesn't derive from their tremendous offense as it does for the Heat. The reason why the Bulls are the best team in the Eastern Conference, and possibly the league, is because of their overwhelming defense.

Under Thibodeau, a known defensive specialist who was essential in the transformation and championship of the Celtics in 2008, the Bulls are the best in the league for points allowed per game at an average of 88.9, nearly four less than the Heat.

The Bulls defensive hasn't always been able to keep the Heat at this average though. In three encounters so far, the Bulls have won two. The first they lost 97-93, although Luol Deng was out. In the next game they won 106-102. Here the Heat go far past the average, but what was impressive about the Bull's win was that it was without MVP Derrick Rose, which demonstrates the caliber of supporting players such as sharpshooter Kyle Korver , C.J Watson and Taj Gibson.  It was only in the last matchup that the Bulls kept the Heat at 86 and took the win scoring 96.

The Heat may have the offense advantage, but if  - not to be clich?? - defense is the best offense, than the Bulls will leave, come May, as the conference champions. A lot will depend on the health of Derrick Rose who has missed 24 games due to injuries, but as proven before, the Bull's bench members are more than prepared to battle without him.

The final regular season matchup between the Heat and Bulls tonight may be a better predictor of the playoff results.

NBA Talk: The Return of the Lakers?: After a failed three-peat in 2011, the Lakers showed Wednesday that they can still win it all

Posted by Andrew Shi

The Lakers surprised everyone on Wednesday when they defeated the Spurs 98-84. What was surprising was not that the Lakers beat the Spurs but that they beat the Spurs when the Spurs' big three had taken the previous night off against the Jazz and were well rested, and when Kobe Bryant was out with a shin injury.

After being swept by the Mavericks last year in the playoffs, it seemed that the Lakers' reign might be over. This year they traded away their starting guard and co-captain, Derek Fisher, to the Thunder, traded their sixth-man-of-the-year Lamar Odom to the Mavericks, and almost traded All-Star Pau Gasol, all in hopes of acquiring Chris Paul, which did not happen. Perhaps even more monumental, their coach Phil Jackson retired and was replaced with Mike Brown whose leadership and capabilities were immediately questioned by players and fans alike

Their troubles didn't end with NBA Commissioner David Stern blocking the Chris Paul deal. Their forward Ron Artest returned as Metta World Peace which reflected his new lethargic and borderline non-existent offense. Their star center Andrew Bynum also missed the first two games for technical fouls he had incurred during the playoffs.

Kobe is Kobe though, and currently leading the league in scoring, he has heavily assisted, if not carried, the team to their current third place slot in the West. This is all not to say he didn't have help. Bynum is third in the league for rebounds, which gave him All-Star status. Unfortunately his performance has been less than consistent, and his attitude even more fickle. The pickup of Ramon Sessions from Cleveland has also added a beat to the offense.

Lastly, despite the fact that the Lakers were desperately trying to trade him away in the Chris Paul deal, Pau Gasol's offensive and defensive playing has been impressive and crucial  as he averages 18.8 ppg, and 10.2 rebounds. His free throw percentage is also at a career best at .823.

The Lakers were never counted out of the playoffs - it was  just noted that there were better teams. Wednesday though, the Lakers showed a depth and capability that questioned that last theory. Metta World Peace perhaps astonished the most as he took over the leading role that Kobe left behind. With an average of only 7.1 points per game, World Peace logged in 26 points and shot 67 percent.  The bench also showed much more liveliness, as Matt Barnes scored 13 and Steve Blake added 10.

It wasn't so much the Lakers' offense that impressed, since they scored only 1.5 more than their average, but rather their defense. While the Lakers on average allow 94.65 points per game, they kept the Spurs at 84. This defense can be solely explained by the 60 rebounds they pulled down, eliminating second chances for the Spurs and giving their own team some. With an average of 46 rebounds per game, an additional 14 rebounds can make more than the difference it did in the score for the Lakers.

The Lakers also put up a superb 3 point percentage,  hitting 11 of their 23 attempts for a 47.8 percent.  This can be attributed to World Peaces' 5-8 and the 5-10 between Barnes and Blake.

If only the Lakers could play like this every game. Perhaps the only thing that is stopping them is the man who made the modern Lakers and led the team to two championships in 2009  and 2010. Kobe is known for taking over games, but that has become a habit now. This has intimidated other players -  namely Meta World Peace, who has been forced him into a marginal role instead of being allowed to hit those threes.

This is not to say Kobe is what's wrong with the team -  it's far from that. Kobe just needs to give up a few points and pass the ball to someone who might have the better shot.

The other improvement needed is on the issue mentioned before -  that of attitude adjustments. This is mostly targeted at Andrew Bynum, who is known for his flagrant fouls and odd behavior. Bynum needs to grow up, because anyone who can pull down 30 rebounds over Tim Duncan should be the best center in the league. Metta World Peace is not off the hook either, as his name is not the only thing wrong with him this season - his playing has been almost as inconsistent as Bynum's mood.

The Lakers have all the pieces to win the Championship, they just need to fully recognize their roles on the team and some of them need to be given a dose of reality to drain those adverse affects of fame from their heads.

Men's lacrosse falls to Hamilton: In a well fought battle the Thoroughbreds are defeated 11-9

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS- The Skidmore men's lacrosse team fell to Hamilton 11-9 in Wednesday night's home matchup.

 In a fast-paced start to the game, Skidmore took the early lead with back-back goals from Mike Perlow '13 and J.P Sullivan '13. The Hamilton Continentals quickly answered back, but the Thoroughbreds obstinately hit two more goals. Perlow and Sullivan's  second goals gave the Thoroughbreds a 4-2 lead by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the Continentals tied it up, only for the Thoroughbreds to take back the lead with goals from Richie Davis' 14 and Bryan Connolly '13. The Continentals closed the second quarter with another goal to enter the second half with Skidmore up by one 6-5.

The Continentals entered the second half with two goals to give them the 7-6 lead. Connolly was able to tie it back up on his second goal of the game with 51 seconds left in the quarter.

In an impressive final quarter Hamilton tallied the first three goals of the final quarter to take a 10-7 lead. With 3:01 remaining, Josh Trachtenberg '15 cut the lead to two before Hamilton scored again. Trachtenberg hit one more goal with 53 seconds left, but Skidmore was unable to get any closer as the Continentals held on for an 11-9 win.

Connolly and Perlow each finished with two goals and an assist, while Sullivan and Trachtenberg finished with two goals apiece for the Thoroughbreds.  Ryan Paradis '12 won 15-of-24 face-offs and picked up a game-high eight ground balls. Matt Diaco '14 took the loss as he made 14 saves on 25 shots.

While the Thoroughbreds held a slight 31-30 advantage in ground balls, the Continentals had nearly twice as many shots on goal as Skidmore, outshooting the Thoroughbreds 54-28. This loss reduces Skidmore below .500 for a 5-6 record.

 

The Thoroughbreds have the opportunity to break even as they host Clarkson in Liberty League action this Saturday at 5 p.m.

NBA Talk: Season of the Spurs?: The San Antonio Spurs are now on a nine game winning streak but how far will the team go?

Posted by Andrew Shi

The Spurs extended their winning streak to nine after Wednesday's win in Boston, but even with a rejuvenated looking team, can their momentum carry them through the playoffs?

The Spurs have beaten the best of the best this season.  The team has gone 2-1 against last year's champions, the Mavericks, and 2-1 against this year's Western Conference first seed, the Thunder. They also punished the Grizzlies, who surprisingly ousted them in the first round of last year's playoffs, holding the series at 3-1. They're dominating the Western Conference and currently hold its second seed, only two games behind the Thunder

The team is still built around the three aging all-stars: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. All three have demonstrated that what they've lost in agility and power which have decreased with old age (for the NBA), they can make up for in team chemistry. With the big three a few supporting and younger players including  center/ power forward Dejuan Blair and forwards Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have become the third highest scoring-per-game team, averaging 101.62.               

This top tier points- per-game statistic is despite coaching decisions to cut minutes for the big three, and to allow the younger players to take on a stronger role. The fewer-minute strategy has worked, but will it work in the playoffs? No, it won't. Tony Parker still leads the team in assists and points, and Tim Duncan leads in blocks and rebounds. The Spurs still heavily depend on the all-stars for wins, despite having them play for less time.

The Spurs is exactly the same team it was last year, minus their rookie Leonard. Everyone is just one year older and that has proven to be dangerous as demonstrated by Ginobili's early leave in the season from an injury. He only just recently returned.

Yes, a nine game winning streak- one most likely to extend to at least 12 until they play the Lakers on April 11- is very impressive, but they had a 12 game winning streak last year and look how well they did in the playoffs.

Many times Spurs' Coach Gregg Popovich has had to sit Duncan or Parker in back-to-back games because he didn't want them too exhausted or didn't think they could manage to play both games. So how do the Spurs expect to seriously contend for a title during playoffs when games, and at least four of them, are one after the other?

The Spurs are just a better version of the Celtics, although the Celtics have a young all-star point guard (Rajon Rondo) who still has yet to reveal his full potential. Back to the point though, the Spurs' latest run has been impressive, but it's all a show. The Spurs at this point are scheduled to play the Houston Rockets in the first round and definitely cannot compete against the younger and more agile team, as demonstrated in the three out of four games that the Spurs have already lost to them this season.

The Spurs are done for now, and they're going to need some time to remold their team to a championship caliber again.

Skidmore softball splits doubleheader: The Skidmore Softball team won the first game but lost the second in a doubleheader against Sage

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS -The Skidmore College softball team split Wednesday's doubleheader against Sage, winning the first game 5-0 but falling in the second 16-2.

In the first game, Sam Crose '12 pitched eight strikeouts, enough to prevent Sage from scoring. On offense, a pair of errors and fielder's choice loaded the bases in the second inning. Katie Amo '15 drove in one run on a sacrifice fly  and Carol Brown '14 batted in two more runs on a single.

A sacrifice fly from Julia Martin '15 and a stolen base from Julia Schwartz '13 in the sixth finalized Skidmore's score at 5.

Unfortunately, Skidmore could not retain the spectacular offense and defense they demonstrated in the first game.  Sage got an early lead on a two-run homerun. Skidmore was able to answer back in the second as Martin '15 batted in a run with a double. In the third Abby Shea '15 scored on an error and tied it up.

Sage took the lead for good in the fourth on a three-RBI double and added two more in the fifth to take a 8-2 lead. In the top of the seventh, Sage, on two homeruns, picked up another 8 runs to garner a 16-2 win and the split.

Skidmore's record is now 11-11 and the team returns Saturday for another home doubleheader, and the first of Liberty League play, against rival Union. The first game starts at 1 p.m. and the second at 2:30 p.m.

Skidmore softball splits doubleheader: The Skidmore Softball team won the first game but lost the second in a doubleheader against Sage

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS -The Skidmore College softball team split Wednesday's doubleheader against Sage, winning the first game 5-0 but falling in the second 16-2.

In the first game, Sam Crose '12 pitched eight strikeouts, enough to prevent Sage from scoring. On offense, a pair of errors and fielder's choice loaded the bases in the second inning. Katie Amo '15 drove in one run on a sacrifice fly  and Carol Brown '14 batted in two more runs on a single.

A sacrifice fly from Julia Martin '15 and a stolen base from Julia Schwartz '13 in the sixth finalized Skidmore's score at 5.

Unfortunately, Skidmore could not retain the spectacular offense and defense they demonstrated in the first game.  Sage got an early lead on a two-run homerun. Skidmore was able to answer back in the second as Martin '15 batted in a run with a double. In the third Abby Shea '15 scored on an error and tied it up.

Sage took the lead for good in the fourth on a three-RBI double and added two more in the fifth to take a 8-2 lead. In the top of the seventh, Sage, on two homeruns, picked up another 8 runs to garner a 16-2 win and the split.

Skidmore's record is now 11-11 and the team returns Saturday for another home doubleheader, and the first of Liberty League play, against rival Union. The first game starts at 1 p.m. and the second at 2:30 p.m.

NBA Talk: Year of the Thunder?: After beating the Heat with a large win, are the Thunder now the favorite to win the championship?

Posted by Andrew Shi

The Thunder was always going to leave the Western Conference as it's champion, but confidence that the team might emerge as the 2012 NBA champions was highly contested... until Sunday.

The Thunder, in one of the season's most anticipated games, beat the Heat by a hefty 16 points. After a year to acclimate the Heat's big three (Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh) to working together, and a blow of humility after their loss to the Mavericks in the NBA finals, most assumed that James would receive his first ring this year. That assumption seemed to depart with the Heat as they left heads hung from the OKC stadium.

Perhaps it was the effects of the game being away that attributed to the Heat loss, but the Thunder also seemed to be having a much better performance this year than the Heat. Kevin Durant is ranked second in the league for points, James third. Russell Westbrook is 5th, Wade 6th. Thunder's Serge Ibaka is first in the league with blocks, but the first Heat player to make the list is Joel Anthony at 25th.

Although Westbrook is only 23rd in the league for assists, Wade is 32. The only statistic that exists where a Heat player beats out a Thunder player is in rebounds where James is 25th and Durant is 29.

In general the Thunder score more per game than the Heat, which is why the Thunder is first in the league and the Heat is in third. On the other end though, the Heat on average allow fewer points scored by the opposing team per game than the Thunder ( the Heat allow 93.63, the Thunder allow 97.16).

So what does this all mean? It means that when the Heat and Thunder meet in the NBA Finals, which seems very likely as the Bulls still don't seem qualified for the No. 1 Eastern Conference seed they hold, it is going to be a very close series. It could very well go to game seven, and the win could easily go to either team. If both teams continue to play the way they have though, it seems that the Thunder will come on top. More definite predictions will have to wait until the two powerhouse teams meet again on April 4 in Miami.